Mr. Vasan’s outburst on Saturday came after Congress president Sonia Gandhi accepted the resignation of B.S. Gnanadesikan as TNCC president and replaced him with Mr. Vasan’s long-time rival and former Union Minister, E.V.K.S. Elangovan.
Invoking the ‘ Valamana Tamizhagam, Valimayana Bharatham ’ (Prosperous Tamil Nadu, Strong India) slogan — coined by Moopanar during the launch of the TMC in 1996 — Mr. Vasan told reporters here shortly after the appointment of Mr. Elangovan that the actions of the AICC over the last few years had been “against the sentiments” of party workers and the people of Tamil Nadu.
When asked if he would launch a new party, Mr. Vasan said he would hold discussions with his supporters to assess the impact of the AICC’s unilateral style of functioning and announce the next step on Monday.
The former Shipping Minister, while thanking the senior Congress leadership for having given him an opportunity to serve in the UPA Ministry, nonetheless hinted at reviving the TMC again in the State.
Congress sources in Delhi said they still had time till Monday to find a solution and that they were in touch with the Vasan camp. However, they were not very optimistic of resolving the crisis.
Congress sources in Delhi said they had time till Monday to find a solution to the crisis in the Tamil Nadu unit of the party and that they were in touch with the Vasan camp. However, they were not very optimistic of resolving the crisis.
Sources said the leadership was caught by surprise when the controversy over the pictures on the new membership cards was suddenly raised.
